Public Figures/Private Lives: A Valentine's Exhibit

A new exhibit from South Carolina Political Collections is now open in the Ernest F. Hollings Special Collections Library.

"Public Figures/Private Lives: A Valentine's Exhibit" highlights letters, photographs and other mementos that offer
a more personal glimpse into the lives of South Carolina political figures
whose collections are held by USC. The exhibit will be on display through April 30.

Included in the exhibit are some marvelous and romantic
letters between former South Carolina Governor and U.S. Senator Olin D.
Johnston and Gladys that chronicle the couple’s courtship and early years of
marriage in the 1920s. Also on display are a series of sweet and playful
letters between politician and journalist Bill Workman, Jr., and Rhea “Tommy” Thomas during their courtship and then early years of marriage while he was off
serving in Europe, North Africa, and the Pacific in World War II.

Other items
include photos of former U.S. Senator Fritz Hollings and his wife of forty years, Peatsy, and a letter with the story of how
longtime state legislator Alex Harvin proposed to his
wife and a sweet note written to her during an all-night legislative session in
1981.

Above is a photo, from the exhibit, of Hollings and his wife exiting the chapel
at The Citadel on their wedding day in August 1971.